A shortage of zinc has caused major disruption in the production of vehicle license plates in Greece, leading to significant delays in the delivery of new cars and leaving many buyers unable to take possession of vehicles they have already paid for.
According to reports, the shortage has affected the supply chain for manufacturing plates, creating a backlog that has impacted registration services across the country. As a result, new car owners are being forced to wait weeks or even months before they can legally drive their vehicles.
One affected customer from the city of Larissa described a prolonged delay of around three months before finally receiving license plates, noting that the situation even led to temporary workarounds, including the use of plates issued in Athens to allow limited circulation.
He explained that despite completing payment for his new car—partly through a loan—and trading in a previous vehicle, he was repeatedly told to wait as administrative delays and procedural issues held up the issuance of plates. At one point, he even considered cancelling the purchase due to the ongoing uncertainty.
“I had already paid in full and was told I would receive plates within days, but the deadline kept moving,” he said, adding that communication from the dealership and relevant authorities repeatedly pushed the timeline back, eventually offering Athens-issued plates as a temporary solution.
The Ministry of Transport has stated that the issue is now being resolved, confirming that tens of thousands of license plates have been distributed nationwide. However, officials acknowledge that the disruption exposed weaknesses in the production and distribution system.
In several regions, local services were reportedly forced to exchange plates between offices to meet demand. Larissa was among the areas most affected, with reports indicating that only a handful of vehicles were successfully registered during the height of the shortage in April.
The problem also extended beyond standard car plates, with shortages reported for motorcycle registrations and special temporary testing plates, further complicating vehicle deliveries and registrations across the country.
